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Snowshoeing And Cross-Country Skiing In Yellowstone National Park

Dec 12th - 10:55am | Kurt Repanshek

Harriman State Park is indeed well worth a stop. Skiing is great, and so is the wildlife!

Dec 12th - 10:52am | knbrown

The park officially opens for "winter" on the 15th of December.  How long the snow stays depends on the weather - last year it stayed through the end of May in some of the higher elevations though over-snow travel ends in March.

Dec 12th - 08:57am | Janes

Thanks for this, Traveler, makes me want to go. Yellowstone is especially beautiful in winter. What is considered the snow season?

Obama Administration Proposing Worrisome Change In Endangered Species Act

Dec 12th - 10:05am | Anonymous

Far reaching results not often considered, Lee.  This goes back to our previous conversation.  You think out of work citizens or endangered small business's (or large) are going to prefer to vote for an often contrived straw specie rather than their own endangered status?  There's a reality out there and better to embrace it and deal with it "reasonably."  

Dec 12th - 09:27am | Lee Dalton

Wanna bet there's some special interest with big money hidden behind this?  Maybe we voters need to make all politicians endangered species every couple of years.

Dec 12th - 09:15am | Anonymous

We need to protect endangered species, to not make it difficult for them to thrive. 

Top Six Family Adventures In National Parks

Dec 12th - 09:19am | Lee Dalton

And that is all the more reason why you need to keep doing what you are doing.  I'll be watching for your book and will buy a copy for my daughter so she and her hubby can get some ideas for helping their daughters learn to enjoy these places.

Dec 11th - 20:05pm | mlanza

Thanks, Lee. I agree completely. But I also believe that it's up to those of us who already enjoy our parks and outdoors to spread the word to people who haven't had the exposure to these places yet.

Dec 11th - 19:26pm | Lee Dalton

It's a shame all American families can't do things like this.  We'd have an entirely different -- and certainly better -- nation if we could. Your kids are lucky. 

Fatal Fall from Angels Landing in Zion National Park

Dec 11th - 10:10am | Anonymous

I hiked Angel"s Landing last Wednesday.My wife and I were the first ones up the trail.As we entered the trail a man named Cliff walked up.I asked if he minded if we hiked together.My wife had already decided to stay at Scouts Landing.I am glad Cliff went the rest of the way.I dont thnk I would have tried it alone and it was nice to have someone to hike with past Scouts Landing.I would have turn

House Natural Resources Committee Hearing On ESA Presents Diverging Viewpoints

Dec 10th - 23:45pm | Anonymous

I'm giving time for others to chime in here, Lee.  

Dec 10th - 17:22pm | Lee Dalton

Anon, agreed.  But how?  Reason seems to be gone.

Dec 10th - 11:14am | Anonymous

The politicians and attorneys won't do it on their own unless it's not productive either financially or politically.  It's up to the change in public opinion if there is to be reasonable outcomes.  A bit more than just about compromise but reasonable approaches with reasonable results.

Dec 10th - 09:59am | Anonymous

Like I've said before, Lee, discount the extremes in language and actions on both sides of the ESA issue and most everything discussed in todays deceptive/destructive environment and let reason take the stage front and center.  Doesn't seem unreasonable to me.

Dec 10th - 09:09am | Lee Dalton

Frank, I agree that some changes may be good.  But when those pushing for the changes use such tactics as trying to hide some of their tactics for "strengthening and updating" anything they oppose in amendments slipped into appropriations or other bills, then aren't their basic motives suspect?

Dec 10th - 03:10am | Frank Denninger

The ESA and those environmental groups who exploit it for monetary gain gotten from the lawsuit refund clause within ESA are a very destructive force to America in general and the traditional activities of many Americans in particular.

Dec 9th - 10:04am | Dick G.

 Lee I agree-- when ever you see the expression"strengthening and updating..." it almost always means gutting the regulations for the most part.

Humans, Comfort-Loving Animals That They Are, Are Changing Their National Park Habits With Climate Change

Dec 10th - 22:48pm | Steve H

Stating that you are making an assumption doesn't make the assumption correct.  Does the author cite support for the assumptions?

Dec 10th - 18:55pm | richp39

I know Kurt. I'm guilty of it myself.  But if the assumptions are based on other research then go ahead and say so. Otherwise you lose credibility.

Dec 10th - 16:34pm | Kurt Repanshek

rich39, I've read a lot of research over the years, and can't recall when an author made a definitive statement without some qualifier involved...

Dec 10th - 14:41pm | BigJon46

I doubt it very much. All chicken littles tend to think in the same way.

Dec 10th - 13:56pm | richp39

I'm sorry Kurt but I have to disagree. The paragraph you cite is statistics-speak for "There are probably other factors involved but we're going to assume they have no affect on what we're trying to prove.

Dec 10th - 13:43pm | Anonymous

The first sentence of the quote is an assumption and the study does not seem to account for the baby boomers becoming empty nesters.    Bottom line:  Does anyone plan a national park vacation because the temperature in the shoulder season is now say, 70 instead of 67? 

Dec 10th - 11:55am | Kurt Repanshek

Actually, the study seems to have taken into account many of the aspects that are being called out:

Dec 10th - 11:37am | Anonymous

When I went to Canyonlands, Arches and Gettysburg in September and October, almost all the visitors were baby boomers.  It's the increasing numbers of this demographic that in my opinion accounts for the increase in off season attendance. 

Dec 10th - 09:43am | Steve H

I agree with the comments above.  Every article of advice on visiting the Grand Canyon and many other popular parks begins with the suggestion: "Summers are impossibly busy...consider going in a shoulder season." I hope the author of this study is being critically reviewed by peers. 

Dec 10th - 00:44am | richp39

 As a statistician, I found this paper painful to read. So much is left unaccounted for.  Exactly how much is a "significant increase in temperature"?  two, three or four degrees F?

Dec 9th - 20:35pm | Bob Pahre

I don't find it hard to believe that people read weather forecasts, talk to friends, gain experience from multiple park visits, and otherwise make educated guesses about the weather in national parks when they plan a trip? I know I do. I also know that my personal weather predictions for some parks in 2012 are different than they were in 2000, especially for spring break.

Dec 9th - 18:40pm | Anonymous

What climate change was that? Where? Everybody get there quick before it all freezes over.

Dec 9th - 17:56pm | justinh

Of course, most of the above objections are more relevant to a sociology paper than to a biostatistical one.

Dec 9th - 10:58am | Anonymous

Proof of causation as a result of weak correlation, I don't think so.

Dec 9th - 10:39am | Anonymous

Since humans don't go to the national parks naked, I really don't think that climate changes affect national park attendance.  (A correlation with the advances in light weight jackets and Dri-weave type materials might be interesting). 

Dec 9th - 10:00am | Kurt Repanshek

Anoymous, also from the paper: Our analysis suggests that humans are among the organisms shifting behavior in response to climate change. And from Professor Buckley herself: "It is a statistically fairly strong relationship and sort of proof of concept that human behavior does actually appear to be shifting in response to climate change."

Dec 9th - 09:18am | Anonymous

I think this is a bit of a jump. Honestly here, what other factors were considered in this study?  Could changing school schedules be causing this?  Could it be that people are more used to air conditioned spaces and chose to travel earlier to avoid the heat of summer.  Could it be that people are flying more, causing their arrival at their destination to be ealier than before.

Passport Picks For Winter: Where In the National Park System Should You Visit?

Dec 10th - 14:06pm | Danny Bernstein

On our annual Florida trip to see family, we always stop at a couple of National Park units. De Soto National  Memorial and Fort Frederica National Monument are on the list for this trip. Danny Bernstein www.hikertohiker.com

Why The Delay In Designating Official Wilderness In National Parks?

Dec 10th - 02:58am | d-2

Most of the acreage in the "Red" states was designated in the Alaska Lands Act in 1980.  That bill broke the norm of passing park or wilderness legislation only when the local  Members of Congress support the designation. 

Lodging Plan For Flamingo Area Of Everglades National Park Continues To Evolve

Dec 10th - 02:51am | Frank Denninger

Hopefully NPS will be able to keep the looks of the Flamingo development in line with Florida's historical architectural styles for the region.

UPDATED: Economists, Academics Urge President Obama To Protect Public Lands, Create New National Parks

Dec 9th - 12:22pm | Zebulon

Kurt, I will change my sentence to "I've yet to see a hiker (other than Kurt) proposing it". :)

Dec 9th - 08:19am | Anonymous

Kurt, you might have swerved into something with your comment.  Whatever preference you have of traveling to or in these special places the act of grace certainly changes aggravation to mutual respect, consideration often making the experience doubly rewarding. 

Dec 9th - 07:49am | Kurt Repanshek

Zeb, for what it's worth, I've raised the even-odd day solution with our local recreation officials. They don't think it'd work. And, sadly, neither do I. There'd always be someone -- either a hiker or biker or equestrian -- who refused to go along.

Dec 8th - 21:34pm | Zebulon

Lee, I don't doubt your perception, and I'm sure that there are a..holes bicyclists like there are other bad apples in every user group.  That being said, the legend that cyclists are out to mow down everybody is just BS.  In a collision, everybody would get injured: cyclist and all.  So, just out of self preservation, cyclists will avoid collisions.  

Dec 8th - 16:17pm | Lee Dalton

I know stats may not support the "myth," but the fact remains that far too many bikers are simply not at all concerned about good trail manners.  Your comment about current users not wanting to share "public good" with others is just a bit off base.

Reader Participation Day: Why Are National Parks So Controversial?

Dec 8th - 23:24pm | y_p_w

Kurt Repanshek: And I'm told the motorcycle noise is pretty bad in Yellowstone around the end of July, when bikers are heading to Sturgis and make a pass through the park, or head through the park on their way home from Sturgis.

Dec 8th - 21:28pm | Zebulon

Anon.  Your compromise is no compromise (if I were an offroad motorcyclist) at all.  On the other hand, allowing them on say even day only would be a real compromise.  They still get to enjoy themselves, and you get peace and quiet half of the time.  That's compromise.

Dec 8th - 19:04pm | Kurt Repanshek

And I'm told the motorcycle noise is pretty bad in Yellowstone around the end of July, when bikers are heading to Sturgis and make a pass through the park, or head through the park on their way home from Sturgis.

Dec 8th - 18:58pm | Anonymous

I also said that it was likely the motorcyclists were having a fine time with their National Park experience.  I suppose if an environmental impact statement said that the noise was bothering the bighorn sheep or the ground squirrels, then something would be done.  People who like quiet well.... 

Dec 8th - 17:24pm | Anonymous

Even when "compromise" isn't a dirty word, it's very often hard to recognize something as a compromise. 

Dec 8th - 16:23pm | Lee Dalton

Anon and Zeb, you are both correct.  And therein lies the dilemma.  Unfortunately, "compromise" has become a dirty word lately.

Dec 8th - 15:21pm | Zebulon

Anon: I'm not taking a stance here, but it's interesting that your observation is how it ruined "your" experience.  National parks are public goods, not private preserves, and do require some compromise on all users.  

Bluffs Lodge Along The Blue Ridge Parkway Shuttered For 2011

Dec 8th - 19:21pm | Ray Heyser

For over 20 years the Lodge was our favorite stop when traveling the parkway.  My wife and I are hoping that some how the Lodge and Coffeshop will be back in Business. It has many wonderful memories for us and our family.

The Essential RVing Guide

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